Supreme Court Hears DOMA

March 31, 2013 5:00 PM

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

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A group from Alabama prays in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, March 27, 2013, before the court's hearing on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). In the second of back-to-back gay marriage case, the Supreme Court is turning to a constitutional challenge to the law that prevents legally married gay Americans from collecting federal benefits generally available to straight married couples. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) less

A group from Alabama prays in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, March 27, 2013, before the court's hearing on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). In the second of back-to-back gay marriage ... more

Photo: Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press

A group from Alabama prays in front of the Supreme Court in... Photo-4383807.59179 - GreenwichTime

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TOPSHOTSMarriage equality supporters take part in a march and rally ahead of US Supreme Court arguments on legalizing same-sex marriage in New York on March 24, 2013. The US Supreme Court will consider the divisive issue of legalizing same-sex marriage, in a hotly anticipated hearing on March 26 and 27 that could have historic consequences for American family life. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on two cases related to the right to marry. These two cases, which concern the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Californiaâs Proposition 8, are fundamentally about whether gay and lesbian Americans can enjoy the same freedoms and opportunities as everyone else. AFP PHOTO/Emmanuel DunandEMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images less

TOPSHOTS
Marriage equality supporters take part in a march and rally ahead of US Supreme Court arguments on legalizing same-sex marriage in New York on March 24, 2013. The US Supreme Court will consider the ... more

Photo: EMMANUEL DUNAND, AFP/Getty Images

TOPSHOTS Marriage equality supporters take part in a march and... Photo-4383809.59179 - GreenwichTime

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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: People from both sides of the same-sex marriage issue gather in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. Today the high court is hearing arguments on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which withholds federal benefits from legally wed gay couples by defining marriage as only between a man and a woman. less

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: People from both sides of the same-sex marriage issue gather in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. Today the high court is hearing arguments on the ... more

Photo: Mark Wilson, Getty Images

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: People from both sides of the same-sex... Photo-4383810.59179 - GreenwichTime

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Plaintiff Edie Windsor (C), an 83-year-old lesbian who was ordered to pay federal inheritance tax of $363,000 following the death of her partner of more than 40 years in 2009, arrives at the Supreme Court on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC, for the US v. Windsor case challenging the constitutionality of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The rights of married same-sex couples will come under scrutiny at the US Supreme Court on Wednesday in the second of two landmark cases being considered by the top judicial panel. After the nine justices mulled arguments on a California law that outlawed gay marriage on Tuesday, they will take up a challenge to the legality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The 1996 law prevents couples who have tied the knot in nine states -- where same-sex marriage is legal -- from enjoying the same federal rights as heterosexual couples. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SamadJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images less

Plaintiff Edie Windsor (C), an 83-year-old lesbian who was ordered to pay federal inheritance tax of $363,000 following the death of her partner of more than 40 years in 2009, arrives at the Supreme Court on ... more

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: People on both sides of the same-sex marriage issue, including (L-R) Anna Olsson and Michelle Bailey of Takoma Park, Maryland, near Sue Holland, Sam McWhorter and Patrick Wood of Gasden, Alabama, joining hundreds of other people outside the Supreme Court before oral arguments in a case challenging the Defense of Marriage Act March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the second case this week about same-sex marriage. less

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: People on both sides of the same-sex marriage issue, including (L-R) Anna Olsson and Michelle Bailey of Takoma Park, Maryland, near Sue Holland, Sam McWhorter and Patrick Wood of ... more

Photo: Mark Wilson, Getty Images

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: People on both sides of the same-sex... Photo-4383812.59179 - GreenwichTime

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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Same-sex marriage supporters rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. Today the high court is hearing arguments on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which withholds federal benefits from legally wed gay couples by defining marriage as only between a man and a woman. less

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Same-sex marriage supporters rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. Today the high court is hearing arguments on the constitutionality of the ... more

People wait outside the Supreme Court on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. The rights of married same-sex couples will come under scrutiny at the US Supreme Court on Wednesday in the second of two landmark cases being considered by the top judicial panel. After the nine justices mulled arguments on a California law that outlawed gay marriage on Tuesday, they will take up a challenge to the legality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The 1996 law prevents couples who have tied the knot in nine states -- where same-sex marriage is legal -- from enjoying the same federal rights as heterosexual couples. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SamadJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images less

People wait outside the Supreme Court on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. The rights of married same-sex couples will come under scrutiny at the US Supreme Court on Wednesday in the second of two landmark ... more

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Hundreds of people line up outside the Supreme Court for a chance to hear oral arguments March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the second case this week about same-sex marriage. less

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Hundreds of people line up outside the Supreme Court for a chance to hear oral arguments March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the second case ... more

Photo: Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Hundreds of people line up outside the... Photo-4383815.59179 - GreenwichTime

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Same-sex marriage supporters demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. The rights of married same-sex couples will come under scrutiny at the US Supreme Court on Wednesday in the second of two landmark cases being considered by the top judicial panel. After the nine justices mulled arguments on a California law that outlawed gay marriage on Tuesday, they will take up a challenge to the legality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The 1996 law prevents couples who have tied the knot in nine states -- where same-sex marriage is legal -- from enjoying the same federal rights as heterosexual couples. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SamadJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images less

Same-sex marriage supporters demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. The rights of married same-sex couples will come under scrutiny at the US Supreme Court on Wednesday ... more

A Gay marriage supporter holds a placard at the US Supreme Court on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court, for the first time, takes up the delicate and divisive issue of gay marriage when the nine justices consider the legality of a California ballot initiative that limits marriage to opposite-sex couples. Wednesday, the court will consider the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which limits the definition of marriage to opposite-sex couples. AFP PHOTO/Karen BLEIERKAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images less

A Gay marriage supporter holds a placard at the US Supreme Court on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court, for the first time, takes up the delicate and divisive issue of gay marriage when the ... more

Photo: KAREN BLEIER, AFP/Getty Images

A Gay marriage supporter holds a placard at the US Supreme Court on... Photo-4383817.59179 - GreenwichTime

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Same-sex marriage supporters demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. The rights of married same-sex couples will come under scrutiny at the US Supreme Court on Wednesday in the second of two landmark cases being considered by the top judicial panel. After the nine justices mulled arguments on a California law that outlawed gay marriage on Tuesday, they will take up a challenge to the legality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The 1996 law prevents couples who have tied the knot in nine states -- where same-sex marriage is legal -- from enjoying the same federal rights as heterosexual couples. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SamadJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images less

Same-sex marriage supporters demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. The rights of married same-sex couples will come under scrutiny at the US Supreme Court on Wednesday ... more

Daniel Wales, 21, of Clarks Summit, Pa. wears a Pride flag as a cape during a Scranton Candlelight Vigil for Marriage Equality in advance of the Supreme Court DOMA decision held on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at the Lackawanna County Courthouse in downtown Scranton, Pa. (AP Photo/The Scranton Times-Tribune, Butch Comegys) less

Daniel Wales, 21, of Clarks Summit, Pa. wears a Pride flag as a cape during a Scranton Candlelight Vigil for Marriage Equality in advance of the Supreme Court DOMA decision held on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at ... more